Another magical Marblehead Christmas Walk in the books

Tuesday

In Marblehead, Santa and Mrs. Claus travel by not only by sleigh, but by lobster boat as well and the pair sailed into Clark’s Landing Saturday, Dec. 1, surrounded by friends.

“It was beautiful,” said Santa, of the trip across the harbor before he greeted hundreds of well-wishers waiting for him on the dock.

Among them were Jenny Wilkens and her two children, Lilly and Avery.

“I’ve come with my kids to see Santa every year,” said Wilkens. “It’s so much fun.”

Santa’s arrival is one of the many high points of the the 48th annual Christmas Walk.

“This is always a big day,” noted Beth Ferris, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.

Before Santa came ashore, members of Glover’s Marblehead Regiment, a group on re-enactors of the celebrated 14th Continental, came ashore in colonial garb. Commander Seamus Daly said the trip across the harbor was “brisk, but not too bad.”

Later in the day, Glover’s Regiment would sail into the harbor again, this time re-enacting Washington’s crossing of the the Delaware River, which was manned by the Marblehead Regiment.

Christmas Walk festivities actually started Thursday night with the Gingerbread Festival at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, local businesses and Anchor to Windward holding preview events and the lighting of the Christmas tree and carols at St. Michael’s Church. Friday revelers came out to Five Corners for the lighting of the community Christmas Tree, which sits adjacent to the National Grand Bank parking lot, in between Essex and Pleasant streets.

Kids danced to holiday music provided by Merj and swarmed Anna and Elsa who were visiting from their “Frozen” kingdom, before the chamber’s Rey Moulton Person of the Year Jack Attridge was called to the stage for the highlight of the night.

“I figured this was a kid’s job not an adult’s job to throw the switch,” Attridge said, inviting a young friend to help him start the countdown and light the tree. “Merry Christmas, everybody.”

Saturday morning’s festivities started with entertainment on Clark’s Landing provided by “A Dancer’s Dream,” with guests “Contemporarily Out of Order” and “Touche Taps.” It was “A Dancer’s Dream’s” 26th year doing so.

“It’s a holiday show,” said director Beth Wheeler. “Santa’s workshop builds toys; we build dances to give to the community.”

“We’ve performed here for the last few years,” added Danny Maskas of “Touche Taps.” “It’s always a lot of fun.”

Also appearing were High School a cappella groups The Jeweltones and Luminescence, performing Christmas songs together. High School music teacher Andrew Scoglio was pleased with the size of the crowd and the relatively mild temperatures made it easy for people to linger, not only on the wharf but up and down Washington Street and Atlantic Ave, at the Old Townhouse, the Hooper Mansion, the Lee Mansion, Abbot Hall and any were revelers met up and chatted like old friends.

“It was another magical Christmas Walk, it never disappoints,” said Ferris following the event. “Over the years it has taken on a life of its own, always familiar, but a little bit different at the same time.”